Convenient solid product dispensing package

ABSTRACT

A hexagonal dispensing box suitable for mounting in a vehicle cup holder includes a dispensing opening, and a slider which may selectively open and close the dispensing opening. The dispensing opening may be in the top or in one side of the box. The slider may have stops to limit its movement, and may be guided by the box construction. The slider may be attached to an actuation panel extending down one side of the box, and the actuation panel may also serve as a handle for removing the box from the cup holder receptacle, and for handling the box.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to product dispensing packages which may conveniently be stored in a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many vehicles have cup holders in which drinks may be conveniently held. However, relative to candy or other small pieces of food, they are often sold in flexible paper or plastic bags which are difficult to store in a vehicle. Once the packages are opened, the foodstuff is often spilled onto the car seats and can become sticky, or otherwise soil the interior of the vehicle.

Dispensing containers are known, and prior patents relating to such dispensers are disclosed in the following patents:

D. T. Hengami U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,402 granted Aug. 20, 2002

D. T. Hengami U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,942 granted Mar. 26, 2002

D. T. Hengami U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,332 granted Aug. 14, 2001

D. T. Hengami U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,499 granted Sep. 12, 2000

C. G. von Stillfried U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,373 granted Apr. 9, 1996.

However, these containers are generally rectangular, with a size and configuration such that there is normally no convenient place to store them in a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one important object of the invention is to provide a dispensing package which may be conveniently stored in a vehicle.

In accordance with one specific illustrative embodiment of the invention a hexagonal package or box for small solid products is provided with a slide which selectively opens and closes an opening in the package; and the cross-sectional extent of the package is about 2 to 3 inches or about five to eight centimeters, so that it readily fits into drink holders normally found in most vehicles.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hexagonal container or box may have a product-dispensing opening in the top, and a slide integrally formed from the box material may be selectively moved to open or close the opening. The opening is preferably near one side of the top of the hexagonal box, and the slide extends along the inner surface of the top of the box and is secured to an actuating panel extending down the outside of the box, and overlying one side of the hexagonal box. The actuating panel is hingedly secured to the slide, and is adhered to a side panel of the box at an area spaced down from the top of the box to facilitate movement of the slide to open or close the dispensing opening. The actuating panel may also serve as a handle for removing the box from the vehicle drink holding receptacle, and for passing the box to others, for example.

Additional aspects of the dispenser box may include (1) stops to limit movement of the slide, (2) a gripping arrangement on the slide actuator to facilitate opening and (3) top panels above and below the slide to guide the slide as it is opened and closed.

Incidentally, typical small products which may be dispensed from the box would be candy, chewing gum and medical pills, for examples.

Instead of a hexagonal configuration, the box may be in other configurations such as 5, 7 or 8-sided boxes, or boxes having equilateral polygonal configuration, scaled to fit into a vehicle cup holder.

While the dispensing opening is preferably in the top of the box, it may also be located in one side of the box, normally near the top of the box.

One advantage of the design is the ease of manufacture, in that the final box configuration can be realized by successively folding the extending tabs in an appropriate order, without requiring a separate manufacturing step of inserting the slider into the box assembly.

Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a solid product dispensing package or box illustrating the principles of the invention, mounted in one of the drink holders in a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the box of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic showing of a blank from which the box of FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed, shown from the inside of the box;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the box of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment; and

FIG. 6 shows an alternative blank for a top dispensing box as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the specification describes particular embodiments of the present invention, those of ordinary skill can devise variations of the present invention without departing from the inventive concept.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a product container or box 12 is shown mounted in a drink holder recess 14 of an automobile. Also shown in FIG. 1 are the gearshift lever 16 and a hand brake actuating lever 18.

As shown to advantage in FIGS. 2 and 4, the container or box 12 has a product-dispensing opening 20 located in the top of the box near one of the sides 22 of the hexagonal box. In addition, a slide 24 is mounted to selectively open and close the product dispensing opening 20.

The slide 24 is hingedly coupled to an actuation panel 26 which overlies one of the sides 28 of the hexagonal box 12. The actuator panel 26 has a lower portion 26′ firmly adhered to side 28 of the box, so that the upper portion of actuator panel 26 may be pivoted in and out to move slide 24 to close and open the dispenser opening 20.

Also visible in FIGS. 2 and 3 are the cut-away zone 42 in the top and the cut 44 at the junction between slide 24 and slide actuator 26, which facilitate opening of the product container or box. Thus, using a fingernail, for example, the cut 44 may be engaged, and the slider 24 pulled back.

The inner end 24′ of the slider 24 is slightly wider than the outer portion of slider, and has shoulders 38 which engage inwardly extending portions of the top or tabs secured to the top to form stops. These stops prevent the slider 24 from being fully pulled out of the box or container.

FIG. 3 is a view of a blank from which the box or container 12 is formed; and the view is taken from the side of the blank which will subsequently be the inside of the box. To correlate the construction of the box of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 with the blank of FIG. 3, note that the same reference numerals are used in FIG. 3 as are shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Two sides 52 and 54, which are not fully visible in FIGS. 2 and 4, are shown in FIG. 3. The inner top 34′ and opening 20′ are also shown in FIG. 3; and inner top 34′ is adhered in place by flaps 56 and 58. The outer top 34 is adhered to the sides of the box by flaps 60 and 62. The slider 24 is therefore guided between the two top layers 34 and 34′ as it shifts between the open and the closed positions.

The bottom 64 of the box 12 is adhesively secured to the sidewalls by the flaps 66 on the bottom 64 and by the flaps 68 at the lower ends of the sidewalls. The flap 70 is adhesively bonded to sidewall 54 to close the sidewall configuration of the box 12.

Incidentally, with reference to FIG. 3, the darker or bolder line 71 extending part of the way between side wall 54 and actuation panel 26, represents a cut, while the other lines shown in FIG. 3 represent fold lines.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic showing of an alternative hexagonal box or package 82 with an opening 84 on the sidewall thereof. The slider 86 is hingedly secured to the actuator 88, which in turn is adhesively secured along base strip area 90 to the top 92 of the box 82. The slider 86 may have an enlarged end, with shoulders 94 engaging the top 92 to provide a retraction stop.

FIG. 6 shows a blank 102 from which the hexagonal box of FIGS. 2 and 3 may be formed. The blank 102 of FIG. 6 is similar to the blank of FIG. 3, but the blank 102 of FIG. 6 has been modified to avoid the need for providing a second opening as shown at reference numeral 20′ in FIG. 3.

More specifically, the sides 104, the bottom 106, and the slider 108 are substantially the same as shown and discussed above for the corresponding parts of FIG. 3. The top 110 is also substantially the same, but may have two additional box securing flaps 112, while the similar function flaps 56 and 58 have been deleted.

However, instead of the apertured inner top closure 34′ of FIG. 3, the embodiment 102 of FIG. 6 has an “unapertured” flap 114 and optional securing flap 116. The flap 114 is folded in before the slider 108 followed by the top 110 and the flap 114 provides an inner guide for the slider 108. With the foregoing sequence of tab folding, the manufacturing steps are simplified, and the slider is automatically located in its proper final position. Also, the embodiment of FIG. 6 has the advantage of simplicity, as compared with the blank of FIG. 3, and avoids the need to punch out the second opening 20′ as shown in FIG. 3.

In closing it is noted that preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail. However, various alternatives and modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, by way of example and not of limitation, the product boxes may be made using 5 or 7 sides or other similar polygonal configurations, preferably equilateral and of sizes which are conveniently storable in the drink holders for vehicles. One arrangement for securing the boxes together has been shown, but other equivalent bonding arrangements may not be used, with tabs located in different positions to secure the box closed. The boxes may be formed of cardboard, stiff waxed paper, or sheets of plastic, for examples, with the box materials matched to the intended contents. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the specific configurations described in detail hereinabove. 

1. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box comprising: a box having a substantially hexagonal sidewall configuration, and a top and a bottom; a product-dispensing opening in the top of the box adjacent one of the hexagonal sides of the box; a movable slide for selectively opening and closing the product dispensing opening, said slide having upper and lower surfaces; said slide being hingedly connected to an actuation panel extending down a side of said hexagonal box; whereby said dispensing opening may be opened and closed by movement of said actuation panel and the resulting shifting of the slide between open and closed positions.
 2. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuation panel includes arrangements for initiating movement thereof.
 3. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 1 wherein the box top includes arrangements for guiding the slide, on both the upper and the lower surfaces of the slide.
 4. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 1 wherein stops are provided for limiting movement of said slide.
 5. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 1 wherein the box or container has a transverse extent between two and three inches.
 6. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 1 wherein the box or container contains small solid product elements which are smaller than the opening for easy dispensing through the opening.
 7. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 1 wherein inner and outer top layers are provided, and wherein said movable slide is guided to move between the inner and outer top layers as the product dispensing opening is opened and closed.
 8. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 1 wherein said box is formed from a single blank.
 9. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box comprising: a box having a substantially equilateral polygonal cross-sectional sidewall configuration, and a top and a bottom; a product-dispensing opening toward the top of the box; a movable slide for selectively opening and closing the product dispensing opening, said slide having upper and lower surfaces; and said slide being hingedly connected to an actuation panel extending along one surface of said box; whereby said dispensing opening may be opened and closed by movement of said actuation panel and the resulting shifting of the slide between open and closed positions.
 10. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 9 wherein said actuation panel includes arrangements for initiating movement thereof.
 11. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 9 wherein the box includes arrangements for guiding the slide, on both sides of the slide.
 12. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 9 wherein stops are provided for limiting movement of said slide.
 13. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 9 wherein the box or container has a transverse extent between two and three inches.
 14. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 9 wherein the box or container contains small solid product elements which are smaller than the opening for easy dispensing through the opening.
 15. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 9 wherein inner and outer top layers are provided, and wherein said movable slide is guided to move between the inner and outer top layers as the product dispensing opening is opened and closed.
 16. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 9 wherein said box is formed from a single blank.
 17. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 9 wherein said box has six sides.
 18. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box comprising: a box having a substantially equilateral polygonal cross-sectional sidewall configuration, and a top and a bottom; a product-dispensing opening toward the top of the box; a movable slide for selectively opening and closing the product dispensing opening; and an actuator connected to said slide for manual actuation of the slide; whereby said dispensing opening may be opened and closed by movement of said actuator panel and the resulting shifting of the slide between open and closed positions.
 19. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 18 wherein the opening is in the top of said box.
 20. A convenient solid product dispensing package or box as defined in claim 18 wherein the opening is in one side of said box adjacent the top of the box. 